Lyceum helps fast food workers get college degrees

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines - Restaurant managers of McDonald's in the country now have an opportunity to get a college degree through a partnership with Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Lyceum recently awarded a university accreditation to McDonald's Restaurant Management Development Program (RMDP), said to be the first in the country's fast food industry.

Those who have completed the program will be given a Bachelor's degree either in Business Administration or International Hospitality Management by virtue of the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency & Accreditation Program.

One restaurant manager "graduated" last April 30. To date, there are 55 McDonald's employees eligible for the program.

"McDonald's Philippines is honored to have received this accreditation from the Lyceum Philippines and we are privileged to be the very first in the field to offer such an opportunity to our hardworking employees," Chona Torre, McDonald's Philippines' vice president for human resources, said in a statement.

In similar countries, McDonald's RMDP earns the equivalency of college credits, diplomas in short courses, or scholarship grants to pursue further education.

Limited edition Coke can glasses

Meanwhile, McDonald's released limited edition Coca-Cola can glasses in 13 countries from the Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines.

The can-shaped glass marks the 125th anniversary of Coca Cola, and is seen as a collector's item. It comes in 6 colors -- pink, green, blue, lime, charcoal and purple.

McDonald's has been a partner of Coca-Cola since 1955.

Customers of the American fast food chain in the Philippines, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Pakistan, Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia can collect the glasses until July, McDonald's said in a statement.

The Coca-Cola can was first used to distribute the softdrink to the US armed forces overseas in the 1950s. It became available to the US consumer in 1959.